Journal vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Journal's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Journal
This App
felt
New Kid
Core Identity
DeveloperJatisari Inovasi StudioDairy App & Notes & Audio Editor & Voice RecorderZipoAppsEUIHYUNG JUNGOatmeal AppsFor Pedestrians LLC.CMoneyAmon StudioManicgrin Media Ltd
CategoryHealth & FitnessLifestyleUtilitiesLifestyleLifestyleHealth & FitnessLifestyleLifestylePhoto & Video
PlatformiOSAndroidAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSiOSiOSiOS
Store Metrics
Rating4.8 / 54.8 / 54.4 / 54.5 / 54.8 / 54.4 / 50.0 / 50.0 / 50.0 / 5
Ratings Count273,0311,239,0091392306,90712000
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree$2.99
Release DateOct 26, 2023Sep 5, 2020Nov 16, 2020Jun 12, 2015Oct 21, 2018Jun 13, 2024Aug 14, 2023May 11, 2026May 7, 2026
Last UpdatedDec 12, 2025Apr 30, 2026Dec 29, 2024May 5, 2026May 19, 2025Feb 5, 2025Mar 5, 2025May 29, 2026May 7, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentpositive--positivemixed----
Score90/100--82/10045/100----
Praises---
  • Minimalist design and clean interface foster a calming experience for daily journaling habits
  • Thought-provoking daily prompts encourage deep self-reflection and personal growth for users
----
Complaints---
  • Inconsistent PDF export quality makes archived entries difficult to read or print
  • Frequent application crashes immediately upon launch prevent access to journal entries
----
Requests---
  • Expanded media support including color photos and multiple image attachments per entry
  • Cloud synchronization and backup options are needed to prevent permanent loss of journal entries
----
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • System-level integration with iOS photos and health data drives automated entry suggestions
  • Privacy-first brand reputation ensures user trust
-
  • Unicorn-themed comic collection functions as a unique engagement hook
  • Biometric security provides a baseline trust mechanism
  • High-frequency push notifications sustain daily habit formation
  • E-Ink aesthetic reduces cognitive load for daily writing
  • One-time purchase model builds long-term user trust
  • Privacy-first design via biometric and passcode locks
  • Curated prompt library drives high-intent daily habit formation
  • Minimalist interface reduces cognitive load for users
  • Automated background route capture sustains daily timeline generation without manual input
  • On-device storage architecture functions as a privacy-focused distribution barrier
  • AI summarization reduces cognitive load of journaling
  • Conversational interface lowers barrier to entry
  • Automated narrative generation removes manual curation friction
  • Daily morning delivery anchors app usage to a routine
-
Weaknesses
  • iCloud-only sync restricts access for users on non-Apple hardware
  • Limited text-formatting and font customization options
-
  • Premium tier at $4.99/week sits above the category median
  • Lack of PDF export limits long-term memory preservation
  • 0.16 rating gap between iOS and Android platforms
  • PDF export legibility issues reported by users
  • Limited font scaling hinders accessibility for power users
  • Application instability during export tasks
  • Frequent launch-time crashes on latest version
  • Lack of cloud sync causes permanent data loss
  • No cloud-backup option creates a permanent data-loss risk
  • Lack of voice-to-text transcription limits input accessibility compared to rivals
  • Zero rating count on iOS platform
  • Lack of biometric security features
  • No cloud-syncing or backup features
  • Lacks app-lock security
  • No social sharing integration
-
Pricingfreefreefreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreefreefreepaid
MomentumZombie-ZombieMaintenanceMaintenance-ZombieMaintenance-
Update Cadence1 versions-2 versions, ~305d avg2 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~3d avg2 versions, ~90d avg-1 versions2 versions, ~10d avg-

Compare Journal head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Journal, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0